Crikey, it’s the Cromptons! - Mouthing Off (1988)

Crikey, it’s the Cromptons! formed in 1985. The earliest line-up included Ian Travis and Dave Morgan of the Jades (later Jactars), along with Tony Crompton (aka Tony Crompton Vest, Tony Chesnut) and Huw Williams (later Jactars). Tony Lonorgan, of the Jactars, suggested Midi (with whom he was in the gospel band Pieces of Glass)  and Karen (with him co-member of La Voix Celeste) to join the Cromptons. 

This is how Tony Crompton described the band in 1985: ‘We have a powerful jazzy-pop-dischord-new sound-crazy sax-sound. We’re not the typical Mersey band. The band is a result of many years of different experiments and ideas I’ve had musically’. At the time (1985-86) the line-up was indicated as consisting of Tony Crompton Vest (guitar, vocals), Midi the Magnanimous (bass), Di Wagstaff (sax, trumpet, vocals), Reg Crikey (drums), Henry Spencer (former Jactars, guitars). Apparently this line-up is responsible for the band’s first six-track self-titled demo (May 1985).

‘The early bands of Tony, Trav, Dave, and Co. were different from the Jactars and Crikey it’s the Cromptons! They comprised a group of friends with a common interest in music who had been influenced by ‘punk rock’ and its ‘do-it-yourself’ philosophy and began making music together in each other’s houses in groups of fluctuating membership that went under a variety of different names. Their music-making was thus unstructured, experimental, improvisational, and was taken less seriously than that of later years. It was a preoccupation − or ‘self-indulgence’ as Tony described it − rather than an occupation, and their few public performances were usually relaxed, taking place in church halls or youth clubs. Unlike many young people living on the Wirral whose bands dissolved when they went to college or got married, members of the Jactars and Crikey it’s the Cromptons! progressed from band to band, gaining more experience with each and becoming gradually more committed and ambitious about their music-making, moving on to bands with fixed membership and name’ (Sarah Cohen, Rock Culture in Liverpool, 27)

The first stable line-up included Tony Crompton (vocals, rhythm guitar, former Cardboard Cutouts, Zyloids, Crompton Vest Band, Jades), Dave Treble (lead guitar), Pete McPartland (bass, former Pieces of Glass, Third Man, later Jactars, Rash), Huw Williams (drums, The Big I Am, Jactars). This line-up recorded the track (Food for Feet)  the band provided for the Vulcan compilation Ways to Wear Coats (1987) and is responsible for the band’s first vinyl release, a six track 12″ EP Mouthing Off (1988)

 

 Mouthing OFF (1988)

- Nicely Smelling

- Starfish (on Seagrass)

- Hey it's the Chicks

- Mad Geek / Magique the Magnanimous

- Colder Parts

- Vegetable

The songs were recorded at Out of the Blue Studio, Manchester, and was produced by Nick Garside. Soon after the release of the first record, the band split up for some time.

mouthing off

(Thanks to our friend Tony, Roger and Jane)

Crosstalk A/V: Last Recording Session (December 1982)

Crosstalk A/V formed in 1981 by Mark Webb (bass, former Dead on Arrival) and Paul Clark (vocals, guitars). In March 1982, they were joined by Gillian Walker (keyboards), and Mike Simkins (drums). After the release of their first single (The Queue, November 1982), they band gathered at Terminal Studio, Manchester to record some numbers (or re-record songs already featured on the band’s earlier demos) possibly in view of an LP release. It was the 18/19th December 1982.

Last Recording Session (1982)

1. End               

2. Israel              

3. Other People             

4. Pathetic Brain         

5. Room to Breathe    

6. Who am I     

Mark Webbs: ‘Sadly, the band ran out of steam and money after those final recordings, which were the best we did and showed the Goth type direction the music was going in’

final mixes

(Deepest gratitude to M. Webb himself!)

The Motion Pictures (1982-84) [Re-Up]

The Motion Pictures original line-up − Steve Emberon (vocals, bass former The Next), Gordon Longsworth (guitars, vocals, later Ponderosa Glee Boys, Foundation, Visual Aids), Chris Edwards (keyboards) and Tony Mckenna (drums, later Visual Aids, The English) − changed in 1982 when Longsworth and Mckenna quit to join the Visual Aids, and were replaced respectively by Lee Marles (guitars, former Accelerators) and by Ray Martin (a.k.a. Roy Martin), first, and Mark Armstrong, in late 1983, on drums. Jeff Kelly (bass) and Ray Jones (percussion) occasionally helped the band during sessions. Despite this personnel, the band’s success was on the decline. Here is how NME reviwed one of the band’s last gigs: ‘Motion Pictures have gaps in their chests where their hearts used to be. The reek of profit margins and steady careers pervades their music which seems to have been exorcised of all original identity, leaving only a flabby, anaemic exterior. The pieces have been photo-fitted together but do not make up an organic whole. In attempting to streamline and commercialise their sound they’ve inadvertently thrown the baby out with the bathwater’ (Robert Scott, 19 May 1984).

In 1984 Motion Pictures finally disbanded. Chris Edwards formed Manteau (with Brian Renwick, Bernie Daracott, Alan Pendergast), Lee Marles formed the studio band Funkmeister, and in 1985 Steve Emberton joined Dreamtime (with Paul Skillen).

Some Emberton/Longsworth-penned numbers were to appear on various synth-pop compilations, namely:

- Here to Eternity

- When Time Stood Still

- Daydream Domestic

Other audio material can be found on the band’s myspace page here .

motion pictures (comp)

(see also http://www.popmusic4synch.com/music/index.php?search_artist_id=58 )

The Motion Pictures (1978-1981) [Re-Up]

The Motion Pictures was a powerpop band formed in 1978 by Steve Emberon (vocals, bass former The Next), Gordon Longsworth (guitars, vocals, later Ponderosa Glee Boys, Foundation, Visual Aids), Chris Edwards (keyboards) and Tony Mckenna (drums, later Visual Aids, The English). This line-up recorded the first single in October 1980:

Twisted Avenues (1980)

- Twisted Avenues

- Unknown Quantity

A few months later a second single followed:

Jon (1981)

- Jon

- Audio Scan

Boosted by the positive reaction of both the public and the music press the Motion Pictures went to New York for recording sessions and TV interviews. The press was still enthusiastic about the band when they returned. Here is how Rolling Thunder (Dec. 1982) welcomed their return: ‘After ten months in the doldrums, former Liverpool favourites Motion Pictures are once again playing live gigs on Merseyside […]. However do not expect to hear the commercial sounds they were producing more than twelve months ago. Their music and style has changed considerably since their disappointing visit to New York earlier this year. Inspirational vocalist Steve Emberton still writes most of the material, with a little help from talented keyboard player Chris ‘Look, no synths’ Edwards. The band’s music has matured noticeably and Steve quotes Hall & Oates, Barry Manilow, Simon & Garfunkel, Olivia Newton-John and the Rolling Stones as his main influence […] Motion Pictures are in a class of their own. It should not be too long before they get the recognition they undoubtedly deserve.’

motion pictures

(see also: http://www.myspace.com/motionpicturestheliverpoolgroup )

A Secret Liverpool (compilation, 1984) [Re-Up]

The compilation was the brainchild of Carl Davies (former Go-Thongs), released by on his own label Davies Records. ‘The only really known band on the Lp are Expost Facto and the High V, who appear courtesy of Probe Plus’(Breakout, Feb. 1985). The first five hundred copies of this Album only had one side of music contained on them, all the sleeves where hand cut from re-cycled cardboard. The second pressing later became a proper two-sided album with gatefold sleeve and inserts –1000 of which were pressed.

Mike Badger (founder member of La’s and a major contributor in various forms to this compilation, with Lee Mavers in the pic): ‘A lot of people don’t know it was actually funded in part by Carl’s brother, the actor Ian Hart and it did actually remain very much a ‘secret’ until 1996 when a guy from Australia called Terry Banks contacted MOJO magazine because the first ever La’s release a song called ‘ I Don’t Like Hanging Around’ was on side two’.
(see: http://www.whisperinandhollerin.com/chat/chat.asp?id=5294
http://www.geocities.com/the_las/lascratch.html. )

A Secret Liverpool
a1. Unknown Artist: Silence
a2. The Kindergarden Paint Set: Secret Life
a3. Ellagaru: Banana Skin
a4. The Riotous Hues: Lessonless Rainbows
a5. The Harts: Please Believe Me
a6. The Cranes: It's That Expression
a7. Roy Gbiv: The Time Grew Forever
b1. The La's: I Don't Like Hanging
b2. Ex Post Facto: Enchanted Ground
b3. Ellagaru: Mother Mother
b4. The High Five: Turning
b5. The Harts: Near The End Of Love
b6. The Riotous Hues: She Left
b7. The Kindergarden Paint Set: Oh Baby
b8. Esprit!: For You
b9. Holiday For Strings: The Greatest Myth

The opening track was three minutes of complete silence (the ‘empty’ mp3 file is not included in the folder). Mike Badger recalls: ‘In the tradition of Crass and John Cage, the opening track was three minutes of silence, though that just confused people.’
(see also: http://www.mikebadger.co.uk/musicdisc.htm )

Kindergarden Paint Set: First musical venture of Mike Badger, whose life span was between 1981-1982. At the time defined as Bananarama imitators (for no apparent reason). Mike Badger featured on percussion on both tracks of the album, recalls: ‘It was my first real musical venture,” admits Mike. “3 guys and 3 girls doing a kind of Rip, Rig & Panic-style percussive, Doo-wop thing, mainly students, who decided to remain students and get proper work. I cried like a little whipped pup when it broke up and moved to London for 18 months in May 1983. During KPS’ lifetime, Roger Eagle got us some gigs at the Adams Club (Eagle’s post-Eric’s venue) with The Frantic Elevators (Mick Hucknall’s pre-Simply Red art-rock outfit – Ed). All in all, it was a case of youthful exuberance versus harsh reality!’
(see: http://www.whisperinandhollerin.com/chat/chat.asp?id=5294 )
(see also: http://www.mikebadger.co.uk/musicdisc.htm )

Harts: Under this name Carl Davies (of Davies Records) recorded two songs for this album, and insisted that they should be released backwards.

La’s: The tracks on this compilation were by the first line-up of La’s, featuring Mike Badgers. Actually, the number I Don't like Hanging Around is Mike Badger with backing band the Modernaires performing a two minute ramshackle swing. Lee Mavers (bass-player with Neuklon) joined the group soon after the release of this compilation. A drummer, Tony Russell and a bassist were recruited and the band started playing parties and local pubs.
(see also: http://www.link2wales.co.uk/lpool/las.htm
http://www.geocities.com/the_las/lascratch.html.)

Roy Gbiv: Under this pseudonym, the song is Mike Badgers (later La’s) first official release on vinyl. Badgers describes the song as ‘a poem set to ‘The Syncopated Clock’ by Leroy Anderson played at 45rpm instead of 33rpm – Alice in Wonderland territory’.
(see: http://www.whisperinandhollerin.com/chat/chat.asp?id=5294 )

Esprit!: Originally called Carnaval, the band included Kevin Wright (vocals, guitars), Steve Boyle (guitars, vocals, later with Honey), Ian Fradgley (bass player, later with Tony Velasco, ex Carry On Spying), Mike Ward (drums), and Paul Roberts (sax). Boyle’s remembers: ‘For some reason, Kevin – who was Paul Simpson’s cousin (Wild Swans) didn’t want to use the name Carnaval on the compilation LP and also we used just about the worst song we had. The guy pulling together the LP, David something [Carl Davies, ndr.], was a mate of Kevin’s so we went along with this. We should have put a good song on as over the years I have discussed this LP with a variety of people and I sold my spare copy to a bloke in Japan a few years back.’ The band, after recording three Radio One sessions, split just before a showcase gig at Kirklands because of a row over the potential use of a drum machine. Nathan McGeogh was their manager for a month. Julie (sax) who replaced Paul Roberts who went off to art college was the girlfriend of now famous Liverpudlian actor Ian Hart.
(see: http://link2wales.co.uk/liverpool/liverpool-a/liverpool-h/ )

Cranes: Pop band fronted by Carl Reynolds (vocals).

Holidays fro Strings: Power-pop group formed in 1983 by Andrew Schofield (vocals, later featured on the soundtrack of the BBC thriller serial Marksmen), Jimmy Hughes (drums, former Madame, later Foundation), Jay Naughton (keyboard, later Jojo & the Real People).

Riotous Hues also appeared on the Elegance, Charm and Deadly Danger compilation (1985, see relevant post). (For Ex Post Fact and High Five, see relevant posts.)

 

 

a secret liverpool

The Jactars (aka The Jacktars) - Peel Session (1989)

On October 19^th 1989, the Jactars gathered in Maida Vale Studios to record a Radio One Peel Session, with Mike Walter engineering and Dale Griffin (drummer from Mot the Hoople) producing. The like-up included Ian Travis (aka Trav, guitar and vocals, former Culture Disaster, Zyloids, Crompton Vest Band, Jades), Dave Morgan (bass and rhythm guitars, former Culture Disaster, later Barbel), Huw Williams (drums, with Crikey! It’s The Cromptons, later The Big I Am), while Tony Lonorgan (aka Tog, bass, keyboards, former Pieces of Glass, La Voix Celesté) was replaced by Peter McPartland (guitars, ex Third Man, now Rash).

Lonorgan, about the Peel session, remembers:

‘I'm not on it, still good though! I'd left to form the bleepy and spectacularly unsuccessful pink fish quartet by then (pink fish media was the name of our promotion / bullshitting company, I just kept using it).’

About recording with Dale Griffin, McPartland recalls:

‘I played on the session it was 'produced' by the drummer from Mot the Hoople :-) Interesting production he came in shook out hands, went the boozer and came back when it was all over and said sounds great lads. We christened the studio 'made of ale' after that. […] [A] nice fella indeed but I got the sense we were not his cup of tea. Pleasant enough though. Think there were two or maybe even 3 engineers on at the time so we were in safe hands. Experimenting with digital recording at the time. I asked to be dropped in at a point and they just laughed in my face’

Besides the title track of their Mini LP, the Jactars performed three unreleased songs.

Peel Session (1989)

- Pull The Plug

- Flower Powder

- Millions Of Grains

- Things Not Seen

The session, wrongly credited to the Jacktars, was aired November 20^th, 1989.

jp

(Thank you, you know who you are…)

see also: http://www.pinkfishmedia.net/forum/showthread.php?t=44512

http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/peel/message/14220 )

The Jactars - Pull the Pulg (1989)

The Jactars − Ian Travis (aka Trav, guitar and vocals, former Culture Disaster, Zyloids, Crompton Vest Band, Jades), Dave Morgan (bass and rhythm guitars, former Culture Disaster, later Barbel), Tony Lonorgan (aka Tog, bass, keyboards, former Pieces of Glass, La Voix Celesté) and Huw Williams (drums, with Crikey! It’s The Cromptons, later The Big I Am), released their first LP in 1989. This was an 8 track 45 rpm mini album of which only 500 were pressed

Pull the Plug (1989)

A1 Pull The Plug

A2 Matter To Make

A3 Deepest Respect

A4 Grab

B1 Shrink

B2 Hive

B3 Boney Backside

B4 I'm Round

ptp